Temperature-indicator for automobiles



H. H. BOYCE.

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPucATxoN FILED MAR.29, 191s.

1,373,859, Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 sHEETs-sHEETl.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29. 1916.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. NII...

1N VEA/TOR A TTORNE Y HARRISON H. BOYCE, 0F FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK.

TEMPERATURE-INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

rammed apr. s, rear.

Application led March 29, 1916. Serial No. 87,423.

ture-Indicators for Automobiles, of whichY the following is aspecification.

This invention. relates to means for indicating the thermal condition ofautomobile engines Vand 'the like, and. particularly to means forindi-eating the temperatures within the radiators of water cooledinternal combustion engines.. As is well known, a great majority ofautomobiles are equipped with internal combustion engines which includea water cooling system and a radiator, the latter being usually placedat the front end of the car. Such radiators are commonly provided withfiller spouts, which project upwardlyfrom the top of the radiator, theupper end of the spout being closed by a suitable removable cap. Thepresent inventlon provldes means for inserting a temperature indicatinginstrument. into the radiator, adjacent to the filler spout, eitherinside or outside thereof, so located with relation thereto as to .beprotected insome degree at least by the spout. The location of theinstrument adjacent to the spout also provides a construction which isattractive in appearance, and the unsightly effect which would beproduced if the instrument were located in a part of the radiator remotefrom the spout is avoided. The nature and more specific objects of theinvention will appear from the following detailed descrlption of certainpreferred embodiments of the invention. s

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 shows the upper part of an automobile radiator in diagrammaticsection, the filler spout being shown in elevation, viewed from thedirection of the drivers seat, the construction illustra-ting one formof my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view o f the parts shownin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view on line 3-6 of Fig.. 2.Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.,1, illustrating a modified form of myinvention. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view-taken on line V--V ofFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through a part of afillerspout,

illustrating another modification of my invention. Fig. 7 is atop planview of the bulb, while ller spout, shown in Fig. 6, with they caremoved. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are figures simi-V J lar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,respectively, illusrating another modified form of the invenion.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and3, the numeral 1 designates the radiator, which has any opening 2 in thetop thereof. Secured to the top of the radiator is the filler spout 3,which is closed at the top by a suitable cap 4. Numeral 5 designates theusual vent pipe which l projects up into the filler spout to carry oifexcess of water or any steam which may be formed.

In accordance with the form of my invention illustrated in thesefigures, I mount inside of the filler spout, as close to the wallthereof 'as is practicable, a ,thermometer or temperature responsivedevice 6, a window 7 being formed in the side of the filler spout jtoward the driversseat to permit the in- Strument to be observed fromsuch position.

vThe thermometer may be .of any .suitableA construction and may bemounted in anyA desired manner.l Also Vthe window/v may bea mere openslot-as illustrated in these gures or may be glazed,`as shown in Figs. 4and 5. Thethermometer is shownl as of the ordinary lass tube type,containing an eXpansible l1quid,and is mounted in a tube or casing 8,which is perforated at the lower end,

asf9,` to permit free access of heat to the the upper2 part is cut awayatv one, side, as indicated at 10, to .permit the glass tube and liquidcolumn to be seen. The glass tube is held in the metal casing in anySuitable manner, .as `by the bodies of cement 11 and 1 2, the latteralso .serving to' make an air and steam-tight connection between?,

the glass tube and its casing. may be attached in position 1n anysuitable way, 't being shown as provided with a screr.7 threaded portion13, which is screwed through a lug 14, projecting inwardly from Thecasing the wall ofthe filler spout, the casing being further held inposition .by means of a lock nut 15. In order toprevent any steamfindingv its way into the radiator, from escaping from splashing out,the upper part of the thermometer and its casing are inclosed by throughthe window 7, and to prevent water ,A

in addition to forming a chamber tightly sealed from the radiator, alsoprovides adequate protection to the thermometer from funnels insertedinto the iiller spout when filling the radiator or from other injury.The thermometer may be of such length as to project into the air spacein the. radiator above the normal water level therein, as set forth inmy Patent No. 1,090,7 7 6, or, it may project into the water to suchdepth as may be desired. 1n either case it will be seen that it givestemperature readings visible from the drivers seat of the car. TheIiller spout 'adjacent to the window therein may be provided withsuitable markings such as the arrows 18, by which the height of thecolumn of liquid may be jud ed, and a designation such as the word teamappearing on the plate 19, secured to the filler spout above the windowtherein, may be provided, if desired, to call attention to the fact thatwhen the column of liquid reaches the top of the window, steam isforming, a condition which should require the operators attention.

It will be seen that in the construction illustrated, I have provided ameans for mounting an instrument to indicate the thermal condition ofthe engine in the most convenient place for observation by the driver ofthe car, and yet in a place where the instrument is entirely out of theway, does not detract in any wayffrom the appearance of the car, and isadequately protected from possible injury. As the instrument preferablydoes not project beyond the normal outlines of the car, the appearanceof the car is not changed in any particular. is there danger ofbreakage, such as would occur if the instrument had projecting parts.Moreover there is no projecting part which could in any way .interferewith the clear view of the road on the part of the driver.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a slightly modified form of 'the vconstructionshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this form the opening in the filler spoutis closed by a glass 20, which is heldagainst a shoulder 21 by anapertured plate 22. rThis plate may also be conveniently employed asscale plate, if such is desired, it being illustrated as provided withthe graduations 23.

Figs. 6 and 7, illustrate another modification of my invention, in whichmeans are provided Vfor the ready insertion and removal of thethermometer which facilitates assembly, and permits the thermometer tobe quickly replaced in case of injury. Ac-

cording to this construction, a well 25 is formed inside of the lillerlspout adjacent to one wall thereof, such wall being provided with theaperture`7 as already described. An annular shoulder 26 forms the bottomof the well. The thermometer comprises a casing 27, having a lower end28 of reduced Neither :terasse diameter, which provides a supportingshoulder 29. The latter rests upon a packing 30 of rubber or the like,interposed between it and the flange 26, the casing being pressed downby a screw plug'31, screwing into the top of the well, and preferablycarrying an insert 32 of rubber or the like. It will ybe seen that thisdevice can be assembled by merely inserting the thermometer casing, withthe packing 30 in position thereon, into the well and then screwing inthe plug 31, which causes the casing to be vtightly held in position.

Another modified construction is shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In thisconstruction, 1 have shown the thermometer 6 mounted outside of theillerspout but in juxtaposition thereto. The casing 35 of the thremometer ispreferably so shaped as to tit close to and virtually merge into thefiller spout so as to be as inconspicuous as possible and not to detractfrom the appearance of the car. Thecasing may be secured in position inany suitable manner, it being illustratedy as having its lower endinserted in a hole 36 formed in the top of the radiator adjacent to theiller spout, and clamped in such hole by lock nuts 37, a suitablepacking 88 being provided to prevent leakage. In this form of apparatus,as in that illustrated in' Figs. 1, 2.and 3, the instrument does notproject above the top of the filler spout, and therefore does notinterfere with the application and removal of the filler cap, nor doesit change the appearance of the car, and it is .protected by the fillerspout against blows which might injure it.

, While I have illustrated certain preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit myself tosuch embodiments, but that the constructer having its thermallyresponsive part subj jected to temperatures within the radiator andhaving its indicator part extending above the top of the radiator butnot above the top of the filler spout and being located in proximity toa wall of the filler spout, the parts being so constructed and arrangedthat the front of said indicator part is eX'-I posed to view, wherebythe indicating part is readable and at the same time is protected by thefiller spout.

v 2. lin apparatus of the character described, the combination with anautomobile radiator having a filler spout, of a glass tube thermometerdisposed vertically adjacent to a wall of the llerfspout, the upper endof the thermometer bein lower than the top of the filler spout an thebulb of the thermometer extending below the iller spout into theradiator, said parts being so constructed and arranged that theindicating part of the thermometer is exposed to 3.K In apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination with an automobile radiator havingafiller spout, of a glass tube thermometer disposed vertically adjacentto the rear wall of the tller spout, the upper end of the thermometerbeing lower than the top of the iiller spout and the bulb of thethermometer extending below the filler spout into the radiator, saidparts being so constructed vand arranged thatthe indicating l part ofthe thermometer is exposed to view.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with thefiller spout of an automobile radiator, said filler spout having awindowtherein, of athermometer mounted linside of said filler spoutclose to the side wall thereof and adjacent to said window and visibletherethrough, said window being formed in the rear Wall of the fillerspout. Y

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with thefiller spout.

of an automobile radiator, said filler spout being provided with awindow, of a thermometer supported inside of said filler s out andadjacent to said window and rea able therethrough, and an inclosingshell contacting with the inner wall of said filler spout around saidwindow and inclosing'said thermometer.

6. In apparatus of the character 'described, the combination `with an-automobile radiator having a ller spout, said filler spout having awindow in oneside thereof,

-of means forming a chamber separated from the interior of the radiator,into which said windowopens, and a thermometer projecting from theradiator into said chamber and readable through said window. Y

thermometer maybe read.

8. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination with anautomobile radiator havingva ller spout screw threaded at its upper endand having a cap screwing on said threaded portion' for closing thespout, of a thermometer mounted adjacent to a side wally of said fillerspout, meansfor supporting 'said thermometer independently of saidradiator cap, the temperaturerespon- Y sub ,l

sive element. of said thermometer bein jected to temperatures Within thera iator, and the upper part of said thermometer be.

ing located 'out of thepath of said capvwhen being screwed into positionso as not to int'erfere with the attachmentorremoval of said cap, theparts being so constructed and ar-y ranged that the indicating portionofthe thermometer is exposed to view.V

HARRisoN H. Boron.

